---
title: "It’s Up to You"
id: "4616"
type: "post"
slug: "up-to-you"
published_at: "2014-10-01T02:11:05+00:00"
modified_at: "2022-06-23T03:10:39+00:00"
url: "https://johnpoelstra.com/up-to-you/"
markdown_url: "https://johnpoelstra.com/up-to-you.md"
excerpt: "I just started reading Die Empty by Todd Henry. Here’s a quote from early in the book that ties in with a lot of other things I’ve been working on and thinking about. From page 9: Waiting for permission to......"
taxonomy_category:
  - "Productivity"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "Die Empty"
---

[Skip to the content](#site-content)
[John Poelstra](https://johnpoelstra.com)

### Bringing order to chaos and clarity to confusion

- [One Conversation](https://johnpoelstra.com/)
- [Podcast](https://johnpoelstra.com/category/podcast/)
- [Coaching for Directors](https://johnpoelstra.com/coach/)
- [About](https://johnpoelstra.com/about/)

 Toggle search field

- [One Conversation](https://johnpoelstra.com/)
- [Podcast](https://johnpoelstra.com/category/podcast/)
- [Coaching for Directors](https://johnpoelstra.com/coach/)
- [About](https://johnpoelstra.com/about/)

# [It’s Up to You](https://johnpoelstra.com/up-to-you/)

I just started reading [Die Empty by Todd Henry](http://www.amazon.com/Die-Empty-Unleash-Your-Every-ebook/dp/B00AEBEWMC)
. Here’s a quote from early in the book that ties in with a lot of other things I’ve been working on and thinking about. From page 9:

> Waiting for permission to act is the easy way out. Everyone has to play the hand they’re dealt. This means you can’t make a habit of pointing fingers, blaming others, or complaining. As painful as it can be, unfairness is baked into every aspect of life, and to make a contribution and empty yourself of your potential, you have to come to terms with it and refuse to be a victim.

#### John Poelstra

John Poelstra, CPA, coaches directors in finance and software. Certified and trained by the Co-Active Training Institute, he has coached for more than 10 years, with over 520 clients and 3,150 sessions, including people at well-known Fortune 100 companies. In over 30 years of professional experience, he spent 25 in technology and finance: software testing, project management and team leadership at Red Hat and Dell/EMC, and finance as a bank auditor at Wells Fargo and a CPA at Grant Thornton. He hosts The John Poelstra Show podcast and is based in Portland, Oregon.

[Author archive](https://johnpoelstra.com/author/john-poelstra/)
[Author website](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-poelstra-show/id1130635146)

September 30, 2014

[Productivity](https://johnpoelstra.com/category/productivity/)

[Die Empty](https://johnpoelstra.com/tag/die-empty/)

[Previous post](https://johnpoelstra.com/what-you-do/)
[Next post](https://johnpoelstra.com/facebook-for-me/)

## 0 Comments

## [Add yours](#respond)

### 1 Pingback

1. [Avoiding Aimlessness - John Poelstra](http://johnpoelstra.com/avoiding-aimlessness/)

### Leave a Reply [Cancel reply](/up-to-you/#respond)

### John Poelstra

[https://johnpoelstra.com/?attachment_id=3756](https://johnpoelstra.com/?attachment_id=3756)

### Work With Me

I coach directors in finance and software who want to prioritize, delegate, and lead with clarity. Start with One Conversation, a complimentary 60-minute coaching conversation.

[See how I work](https://johnpoelstra.com/coach/)

### Subscribe to Podcast

[Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-poelstra-show/id1130635146?mt=2&ls=1)
[Android](https://subscribeonandroid.com/johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)
[by Email](https://subscribebyemail.com/johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)
[RSS](https://johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)

### Links

- [About](https://johnpoelstra.com/about/)
- [Coaching](https://johnpoelstra.com/coach/)

### Subscribe to Podcast

[Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-poelstra-show/id1130635146?mt=2&ls=1)
[Android](https://subscribeonandroid.com/johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)
[by Email](https://subscribebyemail.com/johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)
[RSS](https://johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)

© 2026 [John Poelstra](https://johnpoelstra.com/)
 — Powered by [WordPress](http://www.wordpress.org)

Theme by [Anders Noren](https://andersnoren.se)
 — [Up ↑](#)